High-Protein Hamburger Mac (Instant Pot or Slow Cooker)
This easy Hamburger Mac is a creamy, cheesy, high-protein meal prep made with lean ground beef, elbow noodles, cream cheese, and shredded cheese. Make it in the Instant Pot or slow cooker for a family-friendly dinner with 38 grams of protein per serving.
Servings: 9 servings
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 pounds lean ground beef 90/10
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon mustard
- 32 oz box beef broth
- 16 oz box elbow noodles
- 1½ cups fat-free milk
- ½ block 4 oz ⅓ less fat cream cheese
- 2 cups reduced-fat shredded cheese 8 oz
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Instant Pot
- Using the sauté setting, cook the ground beef with a little salt and pepper until no longer pink. Strain any excess grease.
- Stir in the garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, mustard, beef broth, and pasta. Seal the lid and cook on high pressure for 5 minutes. Quick release when finished.
- Stir in the milk, cream cheese, and shredded cheese until smooth and creamy.
- Portion into 9 containers for easy meal prep. Reheat in the microwave for 2–3 minutes before serving.
Slow Cooker
- In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef with a little salt and pepper until no longer pink. Strain any excess grease and transfer to the slow cooker.
- Add the garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, mustard, and beef broth. Stir well to combine.
- Cover and cook on high for 2 hours or low for 4 hours to allow the flavors to blend.
- Stir in the uncooked pasta, milk, and cream cheese. Cover again and cook on high for 30–40 minutes, or until the noodles are tender, stirring halfway through to prevent sticking.
- Once the pasta is cooked, stir in the shredded cheese until melted and creamy.
- Portion into containers for meal prep. Reheat in the microwave for 2–3 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Use whole wheat pasta for an extra boost of fiber per serving.
- This recipe is available in the apps by the gram, so you can easily pack more or less into your meal prep containers based on your needs.
- Search the MyFitnessPal or MacrosFirst app food databases for “Stay Fit Mom Hamburger Mac” to log in your food diary.
Nutrition
Serving: 283g | Calories: 478kcal | Carbohydrates: 38.3g | Protein: 37.8g | Fat: 18.8g | Fiber: 1.8g